15OCT20 Global Overnight Overwatch Report

Key Storylines

AFRICA: Nigeria’s military warned “subversive elements and trouble makers” to desist following a week of anti-police brutality protests.
AMERICAS: Amnesty International said Chilean authorities should investigate the allegations of police force leaders playing a role in human rights violations during last year’s protests in the country.
ASIA: Kyrgyzstan President Sooronbay Jeenbekov said he was resigning to end the post-election chaos after the country’s recent disputed parliamentary elections.
EUROPE: Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic all reported record daily increases in new coronavirus cases, as Europe stands on the precipice of its second coronavirus wave.
MIDDLE EAST: More than a thousand prisoners are set to be exchanged by the Yemeni government and the opposing Houthi rebels.
TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Hong Kong police conducted raids on the private offices of pro-democracy activist and media mogul Jimmy Lai.

Top Story

Thailand: Government declares state of emergency but protests continue.
- The Thai government issued an emergency order following a night of unprecedented protests in the capital city Bangkok.
- The emergency order effectively bans protests and restricts media content, as the government seeks to clamp down on largely pro-democracy and anti-monarchy protests.
- A student-led protest heckled a royal motorcade earlier in the day, with protesters later converging outside Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s office.
- The protesters demanded the resignation of PM Chan-ocha, constitutional reforms and reforms of the country’s once untouchable monarchy.
- Riot police cleared out the protesters and arrested several leaders of the protest, one of whom posted on Facebook that he was denied access to a lawyer and was forced onto a helicopter to be taken to a city in the country’s north.
- Reporting: AFP, Reuters, WaPo, AP, NYT, BBC, DPA

Africa

Guinea: Internet monitors are concerned about social media curbs ahead of the country’s upcoming presidential election in which President Alpha Conde will seek a controversial third term in office. (AFP)
Ivory Coast: Campaigning for this month’s upcoming presidential election started, which will see incumbent President Alassane Ouattara bidding for a controversial third term in office and the opposition urging civil disobedience in response. (AFP)
Mozambique: The European Union accepted the country’s request for assistance in dealing with rebels in the country’s north who have links with the Islamic State. (Reuters)
Nigeria: The military warned “subversive elements and trouble makers” to desist following a week of anti-police brutality protests. (BBC)
Somalia: At least 13 soldiers died during an army operation against al-Shabaab militants near the district of Afgoye northwest of the capital Mogadishu. (Reuters)

Americas

Chile: Amnesty International said authorities should investigate the allegations of police force leaders playing a role in human rights violations during last year’s protests in the country. (Reuters)
Colombia: The UN envoy for the country, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, called for more protection for former combatants who are being killed “in alarming numbers,” since the 2016 peace accord in the country. (AP)
United States: The White House appointed Robert Destro, currently Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, as the new Special Coordinator on Tibet. (Reuters)

Asia

Region: Singapore and Hong Kong are set to open a travel bubble in an agreement that will reopen the links between Asia’s two major financial hubs. (Bloomberg)
China: Senior officials in the region of Tibet, which is administered by the country, urged Tibetans not to “overdo” religion and defended Beijing’s vocational training program that opponents have called coercive. (Reuters)
Kyrgyzstan: President Sooronbay Jeenbekov said he was resigning to end the post-election chaos after the country’s recent disputed parliamentary elections. (DPA)
Malaysia: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was summoned by the police to aid an investigation into a viral list of federal lawmakers allegedly backing his bid to be the country’s next Prime Minister. (Reuters)

Europe

Region: Armenia accused Turkey of not allowing flights carrying aid to Armenia to use Turkish airspace, as the continued fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh pushes the region towards a potential humanitarian crisis. (Reuters)
Region: Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic all reported record daily increases in new coronavirus cases, as Europe stands on the precipice of its second coronavirus wave. (AP)
France: The police conducted a search on Health Minister Olivier Veran’s house as part of an inquiry into the government’s response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. (AFP)
United Kingdom: New MI5 Chief Ken McCallum said while Russia poses the biggest state-based threat to the country currently, China will pose a bigger threat in the future. (VOA)

Middle East

Lebanon: President Michel Aoun delayed the parliamentary consultations to settle on a new Prime Minister by one week. (Reuters)
Syria: Human Rights Watch called for sanctions against the top commanders of a government-Russian campaign that saw attacks on civilian targets in the Idlib region, adding that the attacks may amount to crimes against humanity. (AFP)
Yemen: More than a thousand prisoners are set to be exchanged by the government and the opposing Houthi rebels. (AFP)

Tech & Communications

Media: Hong Kong police conducted raids on the private offices of pro-democracy activist and media mogul Jimmy Lai. (AP)

World

Tomorrow’s Outlook (16OCT20)

Global: The UN’s World Food Day – 1981
Global: The IMF and World Bank will hold their joint annual meetings virtually. (to 18OCT)
Asia: US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun will visit India and Bangladesh.
Europe: An EU summit will be held with Brexit negotiations and possible sanctions on Russia for Alexei Navalny’s poisoning expected to be discussed.
Bulgaria: A major demonstration marking the 100th day of continued anti-government protests is expected to be held.
China: The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress will meet. (to 17OCT)
Haiti: The mandate of the UN Security Council’s mission to the country is set to expire unless an extension is approved earlier.
The Holy See: Pope Francis will host the Global Compact on Education. (to 18OCT)
Morocco: French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin will visit.
Pakistan: Opposition parties will stage the first in a series of anti-government protests and rallies.
United States: Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, who had been blacklisted by the US in the past over alleged human rights violations, will visit and meet with Defense Secretary Mark Esper. (to 19OCT)

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